AUS-2NDLD ADANI 2 LAST

Janakaraj said todays announcement marked the start of the pre-construction stage of the project.

"There will be approximately 500-600 jobs during this stage," he said.

"Our mining contractors, and the rail and port construction contractors, will be the major employers during the construction and operational stages," he said.

Janakaraj said, "This is a significant commitment by Adani to regional Queensland where the Carmichael mine and associated projects will generate10,000 jobs directly and indirectly, and I ampleased that each of the regional centreswillbenefit from the Carmichael projects."

He asserted that the Carmichael mine is primarily aimed at bringing electricity to 100 million people in India, to improve their quality of life and provide them with better health, education and employment opportunities.

"Adani is similarly proud to be bringing this coal project to fruition and thereby generate tens of thousands of jobs for regional Queenslanders," he said.

Meanwhile, anti-mine campaigners continued to protest against Adanis coal and mine project in the state.

The controversial project involves dredging 1.1 million cubic metres of spoil near the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which will then be disposed off on land.

A federal court in August last year had revoked the original approval to the project due to environmental concerns. In October last year, the project got a new lease of life after the Australian government gave its re-approval.

In October this year, the Queensland Government announced invoking special powers to help progress the Adanis project by giving it special prescribed project status. PTI NC NSA ASK AKJ ASK

This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.

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